Woodpeckers: Nature's Hammerheads

(1983) - 29 min

Animals, Documentary

The ancients believed these Birds were gods that could bring forth rain by tapping their bills. Woodpeckers cannot perform miracles, but they do know how to use their heads. Special adaptations enable them to whack away at tree trunks with extraordinary force in their quest for food and shelter. This high-powered hammering also benefits humans by destroying insect pests.

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Wild America - Season 2

The Bill Makes the Bird

Whether it chisels, pecks or cracks, a Bird's bill plays a big part in what unique Ecological Niche it will fill. With sturdy conical bills, a Grosbeak crushes the hardest seeds. Using the notch on a hooked beak, a Falcon snaps the neck of prey. Limpkins slide their long curved…

Birds of a Feather

Birds are distinguished from other animals by their feathers. Few of Nature's creations surpass the feather's function, beauty and design. These delicate, yet complex, structures insulate, waterproof, camouflage, and adorn. But the most notable function of feathers is flight. Join Marty Stouffer as we learn how feathers give Birds a…

Birds of Prey

Symbols of noble power and unsurpassed freedom —Falcons, Hawks and Eagles still arouse in us a centuries-old mystique. From the tiny Shrike to the majestic Eagle, they come in all sizes, populate every habitat and are each specifically designed for the prey they hunt. Some of the most impressive animals…

Call to Courtship

As spring unfolds, the sweet melodies of Birds provide a welcome break from the stillness of winter. The trills and eye-catching displays of courting males actually serve a dual purpose — to intimidate rivals as well as to attract prospective mates. The song and dance rituals are all orchestrated toward…

Feathered Jewels

The fifteen species of Hummingbirds that nest north of Mexico are exquisitely beautiful in their multi-colored iridescence. All are unique to the New World. European explorers were astounded by these tiny, glittering birds that zipped up and down, backwards and sideways, with wings humming and blurred. Here they are seen…

A Nest is Best

A Bird does not need a house to make itself a happy home. They can be cup-shaped, or long and hollow, like gourds. They can be coarsely made of sticks and mud, or exquisitely woven of spider web and down. They can be found anywhere, deftly hidden or dangerously exposed.…

Owls: Lords of Darkness

The Owl's incredible sight and hearing are second to none in the animal world, and its ability to fly with utter soundlessness is nothing short of remarkable. Its life history is endlessly intriguing. The eighteen species of North American Owls are creatures of mystery. Owls are undisputed champions of the…

Wild Wings

America's Birds come in all shapes and sizes, and they range from homely to breathtaking. But they share one thing in common — the awesome power of flight. The airborne freedom which sets Birds apart from other creatures has been envied by man for centuries. All the diverse Bird types…

Woodies and Hoodies

Two of the world's most beautiful ducks are North American natives. The Wood Duck, or "Woody," dabbles on plant life. The Hooded Merganser, or "Hoody", dives for fish. Differences in lifestyles lead to amusing events when female Woodies and Hoodies lay eggs in each other's nests. We watch as a…

Woodpeckers: Nature's Hammerheads

Wild America - Season 1

All-American Animals

North America hosts a striking and varied panorama of wild creatures found nowhere else on earth. Some of them have ancient claims to being original citizens, while others are recent imports. All are fascinating and are found in every corner of the country. A rare film sequence captures several aspects…

The Beauty of Butter Flies

Few of Nature's creatures thrill us more than the short-lived Butterfly. During the warm spring and summer months, Butterflies multiply miraculously. Even so, some species live but a fortnight. We'll follow the Monarch's thousand-mile trek to its huge wintering colonies. We'll also show you how easy it is to attract…

The Eyes Have it

Did you ever wonder why a predator's eyes are right in the front of its head, while its prey's eyes are on either side? How can an Insect have as many as 30,000 separate eyes? How do a Frog's eyes help it swallow? Why are some animals color-blind? Come along…

Family Feud

Is there a peaceable kingdom? Not really. Wild animals have "sibling rivalries" just like humans. Ironically, related species compete more frequently, and more intensely, than do non-related species. These family conflicts can be fatal when it comes to the crucial concerns of food, territory, or affection... and it's not always…

Mountain Monarchs

Alpine animals are truly the kings of survival. In order to survive in a severe and unpredictable habitat, all have adapted in special ways. A revealing time-lapse shows the development of Golden Eagle chicks. Also presented are the four Wild Sheep — the Dall, Stone, Mountain and Desert Bighorn —…

Season of the Seals

The Pacific Coast's various species of Seals and Sea Lions spend most of their lives roaming the ocean, coming ashore only to give birth and to breed. To best utilize their time gathered on land, both events occur together. January to July is the season when enormous Elephant Seals clash…

Some Feet Have Noses

Did you know that feet do much more than just move animals from place to place? They are fascinating in their wide diversity. Some feet can smell and some can even taste; a few feet are as dexterous as the most skillful hands and others move their owners at speeds…

Swamp Bear Part 1

In the eerie backwater bayous of southern Louisiana's Atchafalaya Basin, Marty Stouffer poles a traditional pirogue to track the South's largest animal, a honey-loving legend. Clues lead to a Bobcat, Alligator, Snapping Turtle, and other animals which share this mysterious realm with an elusive phantom — the Black Bear. Though…

Swamp Bear Part 2

Continuing to search the wild heart of bayou country, Marty finds and follows more clues, meeting creatures both friendly and deadly, before locating the Bear's feeding ground: a pool of Catfish, a surprisingly tricky meal. When an aggressive Alligator moves in during the night, the two legends compete and clash…

A Tale About Tales

Last but surely not least, tails are a vital and intriguing part of any creature's anatomy. Animal's tails come in a fascinating variety of shapes and sizes. Used as hands, rudders and shovels, their form and function are as varied as the creatures to which they are linked. This exciting…

Wild America - Season 3

Antlered Kingdom

The Deer Family is best known for its headgear — its beautifully shaped antlers. Their kingdom includes the lovely Whitetail, Mule and Key Deer, the nomadic Barren-Ground and Woodland Caribou, the majestic Moose and the elegant Elk. All are exquisitely adapted to escape from predators. We explore their essential roles…

Bighorn!

A band of Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep is observed through the seasons. When springtime splashes the mountain meadows with color, a lamb is born and an old ram, the band's leader, dies. And so the cycle of life is completed. Portrayed are the mating battles of the huge rams, the…

Born to Run

What animal is the fastest in North America? What animal is best known — inaccurately — as an Antelope? What animal, less than a week after it is born, can race across the prairie at 40 miles per hour? It is the Pronghorn of our vast western prairies and it…

Cliffhangers

Montana's Glacier National Park, with its breathtaking scenic vistas and sheer cliffs, is the cloud-scraping home of the Rocky Mountain Goat. Here Marty Stouffer examines the whole life story of this unique snow-white animal. We watch breathlessly as we see how the growing young kids learn to challenge gravity in…

Headgear

Horns are permanent, while antlers are shed annually. The forked horns of the Pronghorn Antelope may prove to be the missing link between these two types of beautiful bony crown. Since prehistoric times, man has displayed these trophies. We'll share this ancient human fascination with horns and antlers as we…

Hog Wild!

Many thousands of these intelligent creatures roam the woods from Georgia to California. Some, bristling Boars with huge tusks, were imported from Europe and released as formidable hunting adversaries. Others are escaped barnyard swine. Only one is native — the Peccary of our southwestern deserts. This program explores the funny,…

Magnificent as a Moose

Ridiculed for its awkward appearance and homely face, this largest member of the Deer family is actually one of the most graceful. It moves with equal ease in water or on land. Solitary and restless, a bull Moose may weigh half a ton and stand nine feet tall — a…

Pennsylvania Whitetail

The White-tailed Deer is our most familiar large Mammal — and our number one big-game animal. In states like Pennsylvania, its popularity makes it one of the most controversial creatures. The abundance of Whitetail here proves that certain wildlife can thrive in man's world. In following this lovely Deer, we…

People of the Bison

Bison once grazed America in herds so vast the prairie appeared a moving blanket of deep brown. The native people of the Great Plains molded their culture around the shaggy beast they called "Tatonka." When westward moving Europeans slaughtered the species, they broke a sacred union of people and provider.…

Valley of the Elk

With their proud bearing and stately crown of antlers, Elk are admired by many as the most elegant member of the Deer family. Years ago, herds of them roamed freely across our land. Today, confined to western mountains, they depend increasingly on management by man. We investigate the controversial situation…

Wild America - Season 4

Beneficial Bats

Long the misunderstood subject of myth and legend, Bats are hardly a favorite form of wildlife. Yet they are among our most valuable — and interesting — fellow creatures. This amazing study of America's only flying mammals reveals, with close-up and slow-motion cinematography, their fascinating habits and abilities, and offers…

The Incredible Shrew

Of the more than 4000 species of Mammals on earth, the tiny Shrew has earned a reputation for being the most voracious. It devours almost anything in its path, including creatures much larger than itself. Its heart is hardly malicious, but beats at a rate of 1000 times a minute.…

King of Snakes

In a confrontation with a Rattlesnake, this snake will win. Unharmed because it is immune to the venom, it swallows its victim whole. This amazing serpent is the Kingsnake. Reigning monarch among Reptiles, it is a world-class beauty, with a medley of patterns and colors. We see combat, mating, egg-hatching…

A Multitude of Mullosks

Mollusks are among the oldest living organisms, their fossils dating back 600 million years. And to this day, wherever there's water — fresh or salty — you'll find at least one of these fascinating Invertebrates. The second largest group in the Animal Kingdom, they come in a wide variety of…

Prince of the Pond

You may not be able to turn one into a prince, but Frogs are certainly royal in their ability to adapt to many types of habitat. Commonly seen, yet little known, these water-loving Amphibians are usually smooth-skinned, sleek and speedy. We examine the surprising life cycles of the Leopard and…

Remarkable Reptiles

Until 65 million years ago, giant Reptiles ruled the Earth. Dinosaurs have disappeared, but their multitude of descendants thrive in practically every kind of habitat North America offers. Masses of emerging Garter Snakes writhe in Manitoba's Snake Pits. And from southern swamps resounds the primeval bellow of the Alligator, echoing…

Snake Dance

While investigating life in an Oklahoma cave, Marty Stouffer discovers a pair of male Western Diamondback Rattlesnakes engaged in an extraordinary "combat dance". Sinuous bodies swaying upright, the intertwined serpents clench and strain as they try to wrestle each other to the ground. All stages of this hypnotizing Reptilian phenomenon…

The Truth about Turtles

They were here even before the Dinosaurs appeared, and they remain with us today — tough and adaptable, patient and persistent. Their unique design includes an armored shelter that enables the Turtle to prosper in deserts, forests, swamps, rivers, and seas. This program highlights the casual lifestyles of several noteworthy…

Weasels: Sleek and Savage Part 1

Among our least known, and yet most intriguing, Mammals are the Weasels. They are probably the most beneficial of our predators, and they are definitely the quickest — their movements being almost too fast to follow. Audacity is the most appropriate word for these deadly little carnivores. A three-inch-high Weasel…

Sleek and Savage Part 2

The many members of the Weasel Family are known for their luxurious fur and for their often-aggressive dispositions. While the Sea and River Otters are highly playful, the Wolverine, Badger and Mink are fierce hunters which rarely back down and run. This unique family also includes smelly Skunks, arboreal Marten…